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The City of Bijeljina

Bijeljina is open for cooperation with French cities



​Bijeljina Mayor Ljubiša Petrović attended the conference France-Balkans-Europe in Dijon, France, with a topic – In the new European and international context.
Petrović was one of the panellists and used the opportunity to point out the perspectives and challenges in relations between the European Union and countries of the South East Europe, with a special emphasis on the role of local self-governments in this process.
The hosts of the conference were the French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, together with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, and the representatives of the City of Dijon.
The conference gathered representatives of local self-governments and associations of cities and municipalities from all Western Balkans countries.
 
“We have sent a unique message about the need for more active participation of the local self-governments in the process of European integration, as well as direct cooperation between local self-governments from EU countries and those from South East Europe. It is an honour to represent Bijeljina in the world and build good relations. The foreign policy of Bijeljina is at an enviable historical level, our choice is the European path and cooperation with the whole world”, said Bijeljina mayor.
 
The sponsor of the conference was Dijon Mayor François Rebsamen, while Slađana Živković, Deputy Mayor of Dijon and Vice-President of Dijon Métropole, was among the hosts and organisers of the meeting.
“Mrs. Živković is the second generation of Serbian diaspora. She was born in France, but being aware of her origin, she is familiar with the history of Serbian people and situation of our region. We are grateful to her and all our hosts for their hospitality and professional organisation of the event”, said Petrović.
 
In addition to the local self-governments, Pierre Pribetich, Deputy Mayor of Dijon and former member of the European Parliament, Nicolas Faye, Deputy Director for Balkan Europe of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Paul Guihaume, Head of the Local and Regional Authority department of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Lukáš Macek, Head of Sciences Po for Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Florent Marciacq from the Balkans Observatory, with an active participation of the French embassies in the Western Balkans countries.